Psalms 120:1

KJV

¶ A Song of degrees. In my distress I cried unto the LORD, and he heard me.

KJV (with Strong's)

A Song {H7892} of degrees {H4609}. In my distress {H6869} I cried {H7121} unto the LORD {H3068}, and he heard {H6030} me.

Complete Jewish Bible

A song of ascents: I called to ADONAI in my distress, and he answered me.

Berean Standard Bible

In my distress I cried to the LORD, and He answered me.

American Standard Version

In my distress I cried unto Jehovah, And he answered me.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Psalm 120:1 serves as the poignant introduction to the collection known as the Songs of Ascents (Psalms 120-134), immediately establishing a theme of profound personal distress met with divine intervention. The psalmist articulates a past experience of desperate supplication to the LORD, followed by an immediate and confident declaration of God's responsive hearing. This opening verse sets a foundational tone of trust and reliance on God's faithfulness amidst life's trials, inviting the reader into a journey of faith marked by both human struggle and divine deliverance.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Psalm 120:1 stands as the gateway to the "Songs of Ascents" (Hebrew: _Shir Hama'alot_), a unique compilation of fifteen psalms (Psalms 120-134). This collection is distinctively titled, suggesting a common purpose or setting. The opening verse immediately immerses the reader _in medias res_, presenting a personal testimony of crisis and resolution. This directness sets the stage for the subsequent psalms, which often explore themes of pilgrimage, national hope, trust in God's protection, and the longing for peace in Jerusalem. The brevity and personal nature of this opening verse are characteristic of the collection, which frequently moves from individual lament or petition to communal praise and theological reflection.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The title "Songs of Ascents" is widely understood to refer to the pilgrimage songs sung by Israelites as they "ascended" to Jerusalem for the three annual pilgrim festivals: Passover, Weeks (Pentecost), and Tabernacles. Jerusalem is geographically elevated, requiring an ascent, and the journey itself was a significant spiritual act. Alternatively, some scholars suggest these psalms were sung by Levites as they ascended the fifteen steps leading from the Court of Women to the Court of Israel in the Temple. The psalmist's "distress" in this context could be personal, but it also resonates with the collective anxieties and hopes of a people journeying towards God's presence, often from hostile or challenging environments, as later psalms in the collection like [Psalm 121](/psalms/121 "Psalm 121 - The Lord is your Keeper") and [Psalm 122](/psalms/122 "Psalm 122 - Prayer for the Peace of Jerusalem") suggest.
* **Key Themes:** This inaugural verse introduces several key themes that resonate throughout the Songs of Ascents and the broader Psalter. Foremost is the theme of **prayer in distress**, highlighting the believer's immediate and instinctual turning to God in moments of profound need. The psalmist's "crying unto the LORD" underscores the accessibility of God and the efficacy of earnest prayer, a truth echoed in [Psalm 34:17](/psalms/34-17 "Psalm 34:17 - The Lord hears the righteous"). Hand-in-hand with this is the theme of **God's responsiveness**, powerfully affirmed by "and he heard me." This is not a hopeful plea but a confident testimony of past divine action, providing immediate comfort and assurance. Finally, the verse establishes a **personal testimony** of faith and deliverance, which serves as an encouragement for all who embark on their own "ascents" through life's challenges, trusting in the God who hears and responds, much like the confident affirmation found in [Psalm 18:6](/psalms/18-6 "Psalm 18:6 - In my distress I called to the Lord").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Distress (Hebrew, _tsar'_):** The Hebrew word צַר (_tsar_) literally means "narrow," "tight," or "confined." It conveys a powerful sense of being hemmed in, constricted, or in a desperate situation with no apparent escape. It implies a feeling of pressure, oppression, and severe trouble, emphasizing the overwhelming nature of the psalmist's predicament, a situation where one feels "pressed on every side" (cf. [2 Corinthians 4:8](/2_corinthians/4-8 "2 Corinthians 4:8 - Perplexed but not in despair")).
* **Cried (Hebrew, _qara'_):** The verb קָרָא (_qara'_) signifies more than a casual whisper; it implies a loud, urgent, and earnest call or proclamation. It denotes a desperate, heartfelt plea for help, often in a public or urgent manner. This is the cry of someone in dire need, summoning divine attention and intervention, reflecting the intensity of the psalmist's desperation and trust that God is a present help in trouble (cf. [Psalm 46:1](/psalms/46-1 "Psalm 46:1 - God is our refuge and strength")).
* **Heard (Hebrew, _shama'_):** The Hebrew verb שָׁמַע (_shama'_) means to hear, listen, understand, and often, to obey or respond. In this context, it signifies not merely auditory perception but God's attentive, compassionate, and effective response to the cry of His servant. It implies that God not only registered the sound but also comprehended the need and acted on it, validating the psalmist's faith and providing a powerful declaration of divine faithfulness.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"¶ A Song of degrees.":** This is the superscription or title, indicating the psalm's inclusion in the collection known as the "Songs of Ascents" or "Songs of Steps." It immediately sets the literary and contextual stage for the entire psalm, suggesting a journey, a progressive movement, or a series of stages, whether physical (pilgrimage to Jerusalem) or spiritual (growth in faith).
* **"In my distress":** This phrase establishes the immediate context of the psalmist's experience. It describes a state of intense personal trouble, anguish, or confinement. This is the starting point of the narrative, a declaration of a past or ongoing predicament that prompted a desperate response. The use of "my" emphasizes the personal and experiential nature of this suffering.
* **"I cried unto the LORD,":** This clause details the psalmist's decisive action in response to distress. Instead of turning inward, outward to human aid, or to despair, the psalmist directs a fervent, urgent plea specifically to "the LORD" (Yahweh), the covenant God of Israel. This signifies an act of faith, acknowledging God as the ultimate source of help and salvation.
* **"and he heard me.":** This concluding clause delivers the powerful resolution and testimony. It is a declarative statement of past divine action, affirming that God not only perceived the cry but also responded effectively. This immediate affirmation of God's attentiveness and intervention transforms the lament of distress into a declaration of confident faith and experienced deliverance, setting a tone of hope for the entire collection.

#### Literary Devices
Psalm 120:1 masterfully employs several literary devices to convey its powerful message. The most prominent is **Personal Testimony**, as the psalmist directly states "I cried... and he heard me," creating an immediate, relatable, and authentic account of divine interaction. This direct address draws the reader into the psalmist's experience. There is also a strong sense of **Juxtaposition**, contrasting the profound "distress" of the human condition with the immediate and effective "hearing" of the sovereign God. This highlights the vast difference between human limitation and divine power. The psalm also begins **_In medias res_**, plunging directly into the heart of the action and its resolution without preamble, creating a sense of urgency and immediate impact. Finally, the structure presents a clear **Problem-Solution** paradigm: the problem of distress is immediately followed by the solution of God's responsive hearing, offering a concise and powerful message of hope and divine faithfulness.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Psalm 120:1 lays a foundational theological truth: God is a God who hears and responds to the cries of His people, especially in their deepest distress. This immediate affirmation of divine responsiveness underscores God's immanence and His active engagement in the lives of believers. It establishes prayer not merely as a ritual or a hopeful gesture, but as an effective means of communication with a personal God who is attentive to human suffering. The verse implicitly teaches about God's faithfulness and compassion, demonstrating that even when circumstances are "narrow" and overwhelming, the pathway to divine help remains open and effective. This confidence in God's hearing ear serves as the bedrock for navigating the subsequent "ascents" and challenges presented throughout the pilgrimage psalms.

* [Psalm 34:6](/psalms/34-6 "Psalm 34:6 - This poor man cried, and the Lord heard him")
* [Psalm 18:6](/psalms/18-6 "Psalm 18:6 - In my distress I called to the Lord; he heard my voice")
* [Lamentations 3:55-57](/lamentations/3-55 "Lamentations 3:55-57 - I called on your name, O Lord, from the depths of the pit; you heard my plea")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Psalm 120:1 offers profound encouragement for believers navigating their own "distress" today. It models an immediate and instinctual response to trouble: turning directly to the LORD. In a world that often encourages self-reliance, distraction, or despair in the face of difficulty, the psalmist's testimony reminds us that our first and most effective recourse is fervent prayer to the God who sees, knows, and hears. The powerful declaration "and he heard me" is not just a historical account but a timeless assurance. It invites us to pray with confidence, knowing that God is not distant or indifferent, but actively attentive to our cries. This foundational truth empowers us to bring our anxieties, fears, and desperate situations before Him, trusting that He will respond according to His perfect will and timing, transforming our narrow places into spaces of divine intervention and peace. As part of the Songs of Ascents, it also reminds us that life is a journey, often marked by challenging "ascents," but through it all, our unwavering trust in God's listening ear is our constant source of strength and hope.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **What is your immediate response when you find yourself in "distress" or a "narrow place"?**
* **How does the psalmist's confident declaration, "and he heard me," challenge or affirm your own faith in God's responsiveness to prayer?**
* **In what specific areas of your life do you need to "cry unto the LORD" with greater urgency and trust today?**
* **How can remembering God's past faithfulness in hearing your prayers strengthen your resolve in current or future trials?**

### FAQ
**What does "A Song of degrees" mean in the title of Psalms 120?**

Answer: "A Song of degrees" is the King James Version translation of the Hebrew _Shir Hama'alot_ (שיר המעלות), which is more accurately rendered as "Song of Ascents" or "Song of Steps." This title refers to a collection of fifteen psalms (Psalms 120-134). Scholars generally agree it indicates these psalms were sung by pilgrims as they "ascended" to Jerusalem for the annual festivals, as Jerusalem is geographically elevated. Alternatively, it might refer to the fifteen steps leading up to the Temple in Jerusalem, which Levites would ascend while singing these psalms. The title thus provides crucial context, suggesting a journey, whether physical or spiritual, towards God's presence and holy city, often characterized by stages of growth, challenge, and ultimate hope, as seen in the progression from distress in [Psalm 120](/psalms/120 "Psalm 120 - A Song of Ascents") to the peace of Jerusalem in [Psalm 122](/psalms/122 "Psalm 122 - Prayer for the Peace of Jerusalem").

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Psalm 120:1, with its raw depiction of distress and the immediate affirmation of God's hearing, finds profound fulfillment in the person and work of Jesus Christ. Jesus, the ultimate pilgrim on earth, experienced distress far deeper than any human, culminating in His agony in Gethsemane where He "cried out with loud cries and tears to him who was able to save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverence" ([Hebrews 5:7](/hebrews/5-7 "Hebrews 5:7 - Jesus' prayers in Gethsemane")). His cry from the cross, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" ([Matthew 27:46](/matthew/27-46 "Matthew 27:46 - Jesus' cry from the cross")), though seemingly unanswered in the moment, was ultimately "heard" in the resurrection, demonstrating God's ultimate vindication and deliverance. Furthermore, Jesus is the one through whom all our cries are heard; He is our great High Priest who intercedes for us ([Hebrews 7:25](/hebrews/7-25 "Hebrews 7:25 - Jesus intercedes for us")) and the one who promises that whatever we ask in His name, the Father will do ([John 14:13-14](/john/14-13 "John 14:13-14 - Asking in Jesus' name")). The "ascent" envisioned in the psalm finds its true destination in the heavenly Jerusalem, to which Christ, our forerunner, has ascended ([Hebrews 6:20](/hebrews/6-20 "Hebrews 6:20 - Jesus, our forerunner, entered the inner sanctuary")), paving the way for all who, in their distress, cry out to the Lord through Him.

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.